Cotton picker



Sept. 16, 1930. Q J. P. CRUISE 1,775,890

COTTON PICKER Filed March 30. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l /7r1/er7for {ECW749686 fir wimil Sept. 16, 1930.

J. P. CRUISE 1,775,890

COTTON PICKER Filed March 30, 1928' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CI}? Cruise Sept. 16, 1930. J. P. CRUISE 1,775,890

COTTON PICKER Filed March 30, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III,

UNETF.

ST'E'ES PATENT @FFICE JAMES P. CRUISE, OF UTICA, MISSISSIPPI CJTTON PICKER Application filed March 30, 1928.

My invention relates to machines for gathering cotton from the stalks of the plant, to replace manual labor generally employed. The invention has particular reference to draft apparatus adapted to straddle and 0p erate upon a single row or a plurality of cotton rows during travel across the field.

Heretofore in this art many various 1na chines have been proposed for accon'iplishing 1e thepicking of cotton from the plant but they have in general provedimpractical due to various structural deficiencies and in general they have not been designed to accommodate varying heights of cotton rows and varying widths between such rows and flexibility in being turned at the end of the rows so as to pick cotton to the end of the rows. Fur thermore machines heretofore proposed have been objectionable in that in many instances no provision is made for separating dead leaves, twigs and trash from the cotton as it is picked from the plant. This naturally results in a-product which is a very inferior grade and necessitates cleaning after pick ng.

7 Among the objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide in a cotton picking machine means for epa-rating dead leaves, twigs and such like trash matei cu rial from the cotton before the cotton is picked from the plant by operation of the machine; to provide 111 a cotton picking machine a novel pneumatic separating and picking means whereby the 7 machine functions through suction to gather cotton from the picker plates as they take the cotton from the stalks of plants; to provide in a machine of this-character a novel means for regulating the effective number of picker units employed; to provide in a machine of-this char actor a novel structural arrangement of picker units and cooperating guide means for the stalks and branches of cotton plants; to provide in a machine of this character a novel means for adjusting the effective operating hei ht of the picker units; to provide in a machine of this character a novel means whereby relative adjustment may be had between the picker units and the machine frame in a plurality of directions; and to provide Serial No. 265,888.

a flexible means of picking cot-ton up to the end of the rows.

With these and such other objects in view as will be apparent from the description, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, from the right of Figure 1 and illustrating the forward end of the machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of certain elements of the machine, the super-structure and a number of parts having been removed for clearness of detail Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the cooperative relation between a picker element and the trash separating means.

Figure 5 is a similar elevation illustrating the cooperation between a picker element and a cotton picking means.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the link connection means whereby vertical and horizontal adjustment of the picker elements is obtained within the machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section through the operating means employed for effecting the adjustment of the picker units within the frame.

In its general aspects my invention comprises a wheeled frame carrying a plurality of picker units rotatably mounted on vertically disposed shafts whichare driven from power means disposed at a suitable point in the main frame. These picker units are adapted to engage and pluck cit the cotton from plants which are guided into engagement with the picker units through means of suitably formed guiding arms which direct the stalks and branches of the cotton plants between and into the picker units. Cooperating with these picker units there is arranged a plurality of suction means operating to extract dead leaves, twigs and trash material from the cotton plant and hold green leaves away from the picker points of the plates justing the operative action of a desired vertical number of picker units andin order to accommodate for irregularity in height and 7 width between the cotton rows, means-are any construction desired and the sup? provided for adjusting the picker units to accommodate such irregularities. In detail theinvention comprises a substantially rectangular main frame 10 having a relatively greater width than length best illustrated in Figure and which is supportt ed at opposite sidesupon bearing wheels ll arranged in vertical standards 12 having Thefront andrear ends of the frame carry supplemental supporting wheels; 13 and 14 which terminate normally inspaccd relation above the ground so that they are normally held out of engagement withthe ground surface when the machine is being prop'elled over a field of cotton plants. Th'eforward end bar of the frame carries suitable power traction engaging means 15, which maybe of cine-ntal Wheels 13 and l l are aligned longit dinally in the frame, bein 'located intermediate opposite sides thereof. These supplemental wheelslfu'nction to support the framewhen; any variation in ground surface requires such. supportand when the machine'is disconnected from its power traction means. Intermediate the opposite side bars of the frame are disposed apair of parallel brace beams 16' extending from front to rear of the machme and formlng a frame support in conjunction with side bars of the frame for' carrying elements of the superstructure of the machine, which elements consist in a centrallydisposed prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine 17 and fan assemblies 18 "and 19 disposed on op;

posite sides of the'machi'ne. It will understood that the fan assemblies '18 f and l9 comprise'the conventional casing-arthe motor 17.

. 34 and35, which shafts have-"upper and 1 rangement containing internally mounted fans, not ,shown, for creating a suction 1 through their respective intake conduits 20.

and 21, the respective fans being driven from shafts 22 and 23'receiving then-"power from "Between each "or the fan assemblies 18 and 19 and the motor '17, the respective drive;

shafts 22 and 23 are provided with gearboxes 24', 2'5, 26 and 27, throughfwhichthe positive drive of the shafts is transn'iitted by way of flexible shafts 28,29, 30 and 31 down to four Y vertically arranged picker unit shafts 821, 33,

lower end bearings through two substantially *J' 1 Q11 7 rlJ-shaped strap frames so and 3!. These strap frames have depending arms" 38, 39, 40'

rigid attachment to theside bars of theframe" i mounted on its respective vertical drive shaft a vertically spaced series of parallel annular plates 46 provided on their upper faces'with' a plurality of upstanding picker fingers l7 in f the form of verticalprongs which extend a relatively short distance" above the plate and I are designed to engagein the cotton carried.

on plants engaged by the machine. The respective picker units are generally 'des1gnat ed as at A, B, C and D and'itis to be noted that theplates of the units A and B are d fi'ven V in opposite directions, while the units G and D are likewise drivenin o pposite directions; The diameters of the plates 46 is such that the respective units are disposed in pairs with the component elements of'eachj pair being arranged in a horizontally spaced relation 7 sufficient to permit of the, passage of cotton plant stalks between therespective of each pair of pickers. u p a Means are provided forguidingithe'cotton plants into the spaces'betweenthe respective picker units and at the same time causing the branches of the plantsto-be bent downwardlyv and "forced into engagement with "the rotating surfaces of the respectivepl'ates 46 whereby the cotton will be. plucked from'the elements branches by action of the fingers 47; This" cured. to the adjacent straps of their respective strap frames .36' and 37, thevertical portions-of the rods 48 beingdis posed adjacent the peripheries of the plates 46 V and forward-- means comprises forwardly "positioned v'er tlcal rods l8 having inturned end port ons sely thereof'relativeto the travel, ofthe a chine; Theselrods 48 are formed or suit-s ably provided with rearwardly extending a curved guide arms 4-9,- which arms are equal in number to the number oflpicker plates in each unit and are located adjacenteach of the picker plates; These"a"rm's 49 are of a length sufii'cie'nt ;to 1 extend substantially} lar ound'one quarter of'tllej peripheries of their adjacent picker plates i 46 and they I extend from their respective rods d8f'i'niopposedre lationkwith the major portion of their lengths 3 extending laterallyi from the rods 48 in par allel relation to the picker plates; The termiportions of t'hese guide arms w are disposed in; the space between;therespective p a I picker units and are therein;down turned'at 1 a relatively sharp inclination with) the tip of eachv arm terminating slightly above the i top of a guard positionedabove theadj acent picker plate, as will now bedesc'ribed f Over; substantially the entire topof each 1320 I picker plate 46 is disposed a guard in the form of a hood 50 arranged in parallel relation to the respective picker plates and spaced very slightly above the tips of the picker fingers 47, as best shown in Figure 1. These guards 50 extend over the entire top area of the forward portions of the picker plates and have depending side edge flanges 51 for enclosing the side or peripheral edges of the picker plates. These guards are suitably secured to the respective strap members 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the picker unit strap frames 36 and 37, being disposed thereon in the desired relation to the rotating picker mechanism.

It will be observed from this construction that the entire forward portions of the picker units will be so protected by means of the guards 50 and 51 that no part of the cotton plants may become engaged by the upstanding picker fingers 47 until the plant shall have passed rearwardly beyond that portion of the picker unit which is covered by the guards 50. During this rearward movement as the machine is drawn forwardly over the cotton rows, the branches of the cotton plant are engaged by the guide arms 49 and bent down into positive engagement against the top of the respective shields 50 being compressed between the shields 50 and the downwardly inclined portions of the guide arms 49.

Each of the picker units A, B, O and D has disposed adjacent the rear portion thereof, and adjacent the space provided for passage of cotton plants, a vertical suction conduit 52 which is suitably retained in rigid attached engagement on its respective strap frame 36 or, 37 by means of bracket arms 53. At spaced, vertical intervals corresponding to the disposition of the picker plates 46, the conduits 52 are provided with laterally extending branches 54 which extend inwardly into the space between adjacent picker plates and each of which is provided with a flared mouth 55 spaced above the tops of the picker fingers 47 on toe respective picker plates and formed with a covering grid or screen plate 56 which extends inwardly over the respective picker plate at an upward incline from the peripheral edge of the plate, as best illus trated in Figure 4. Adjacent the mouth 55 of the suction branch 54, each picker plate has its respective guard 50 cut away so as to permit passage of the branches of the cotton plant downwardly into engagement against the picker plate directly under the suction mouth 55. Conduits 57 connect the upper ends of the conduits 52 with the suction conduit 20 leading to the trash collecting fan 18 at one side of the machine frame.

Each of the picker units has a similarly mounted cotton suction conduit 58 arranged adjacent the outer portion at the rear of each respective picker unit and parallel with the.

conduits 52 just described. These cotton suction conduits 58 are provided with lateral branches 59 similar to the branches 54 already described and which extend into the space between the respective picker plates. The branches 59 are, however, provided with flared downturned suction mouths 60 which cover a relatively large adjacent area of the respective picker plate 46 which passes therebeneath, the mouth 60 being arranged with an opening disposed in parallel relation with the adjacent picker plate and spaced slightly above the tops of the picker fingers 47 so that cotton held on the picker fingers may pass in under the mouth 60 and be sucked up therethrough into the conduit 58. At their upper ends these conduits 58 connect with flexible conduits 61 which lead into the conduit 21 extending from the cotton suction fan assembly 19 at the top of the machine frame.

As the respective picker plates on the different units rotate in opposite directions, it will be apparent that due to the action of the guide arms 49, the branches of a cotton plant engaged by the picker will be forced downwardly into the spaces between the respective picker plates and the respective guards 50 up to the grids 56 on the respective branches 54 of the trash collecting conduits 52. As the first suction acting upon the cotton plants is through the conduits 52. it will be apparent that dead leaves, loose twigs, trash and other foreign material will be dislodged from the cotton plant through the combined action of the guide arms 49 and guard plates 50 and will be sucked up through the grids 56 into the trash collecting fan assembly 18 at one side of the machine. The mesh of the grid screens 56 is not large enough to permit passage therethrough of the cotton bolls and under the continuous rotation of the picker plates, these cotton bolls will be impaled upon the picker finger prongs 47 carrying the cotton from beneath the screens 56 to a point beneath the cotton suction mouth 60 of the conduits 58, at which points the suction is effective to draw the cotton from the fingers 47 up into the cotton collecting assembly 19.

It will thus be seen that means are provided in this machine for first separating trash and loose leaves and the like from the cotton before the cotton is picked from the plant. This feature is of tremendous value in the machine picking of cotton.

Inasmuch as it is not at all times desirable to employ the effective operation of the entire number of picker plates, I provide means for closing off a desired number of the uppermost picker plates, which may be employed in accordance with seasonal requirements. This means comprises arcuate doors 62 having vertical pivotal connection with the respective rods 48 at the upper portions of the rods whereby the doors or covers may be swung inwardly toward each other on the respective picker units to close over the external peripheral portions of the adjacent L guards 50 and guide arms/l9 whereby any portion of a cotton plant passing into engagement with the surface of the covers 62 when they are in closed position, will be prevented from engaging the uppermost picker means'and will be directed merely into the space provided for the passage of thestalk of the cotton plant. In. the olraW- ings the closure plates 62 are shown in'every instance as in full open position and it will be observed, especially from a consideration of Figure 3, that in their open positions, these closure members 62 by reason of their arcuate formation cooperate with the guide arms 49 toprovide an effective means for gathering in the uppermost portions of the cotton plants andfthereby preventing any spreading of the branches toward the outer portions of the picker units such as might tend to block the operation of the machine. i

As not all cotton rows are developed in uniform spacing between the various rows and between individual plants of the rows,

it becomes necessary to make provision for an ad ustment of the picker un ts to accom modate for such variances. I have PTOVlClGCl a means foraccomplishing both an adjustable movement of the plcker units late-rally in the machine frame andvertically therein to accommodate rises and depressions in the 1 the rods 63in eye bolts carried by the "strap frames 36 and 37 at'eachside thereof.

This particular mounting is best illustrated in Figure 6. The rear ends of the rods 63 have their eyes 64 pivotally connected in vertically depending bracket'arms 66 rigidly secured on the bottom ofthe rear bar' of the main frame, and between the lower ends of the brackets 66 and the respective side straps 38, 39, 4'0 and 41 of the frames 36 and 37',

' link rods 67 of identical. construction with ftherods 63are disposed in pivotal connection "at each endso'that with respect to thebrackets66. the frames 36 and 37 may be "moved-1 sire" 1t tobe understoodthat thefinventi'onQ is not to be limited thereby but-.that'any dea'plurality of directions to secure the desired adjustment of the picker units. f

This adjusting movement is effected through the medium of an operatingjlever 68 pivoted intermediate its ends for vertical rocking movement between upright cars 69 s 166 formed on a rotatableplate T0,.which plate isrotatably mounted on a standard 71 adapt- 7 ed tolie on the top face of the rear bar of.

securingmeans may be passed through the frame.

'- The plate 7 0 has formed integral therewith an upright rack sector 74 extending from the peripheral edge of the plate and provided with teeth adapted lto'loe engagedby the slidable bolt 75 of a latch'mechanism J7 mounted on the operating lever 68 and controlled through manipulation of. the handle ation of such latching device. Rearwardly of the machine the operating lever 68 is 1 formedwith a'handle 78 and at itsforward endthe lever 68 is downwardly curved and p terminates in an eye 79 through which is en- 77 as in'the ordinary construction and oper-- gagged a crank portion formed intermediate 5 the ends of a rod .81 disposed transversely U between the link rods 63 and connected 'to V 7 said rods by eyes82 formed at each end of the said'rod 81. V V

The plate 70 is further provided with a support 83 upon which is'pivotally mounted the bell crank'lever 84v having its long arm f" 85 extending ov'erfthe forward peripheral edge of the plate 70 and terminating in a depending portion 86 adapted to be engaged be tween teeth 87 formed in theadjacent fordisengage the portion 86 through means :or

latching"mechanism; It will'be obvious that ating lever 68 may be rotated in a. horizontal whereby the connection-with the rod'81, the

respective strap frame36 or' 37 is movedinto 5 the d'esired adjusted position. f v

i tVhile in this preferred illustrative :em-

bodinientof the invention ,I -h av illustrated and described certain details; enteringinto the construction and operation thereof, I de- .95 ward edge ofthe support 71 and a socket 88 formed inthe peripheral edge of the plate :70, as best shown ,in Figure 7 The bell crank lever is rocked vertically to engage'or an operating link89 extending rearwardly to a pivoted actuating handle "90 carried by the operating lever .68 adjacentits handle 78 and on the side'opposite the handle77- of the I V a compression of the handles 77 7 and 90 against the handleZS will releasethe latching means above describedso that the operin the structural detailsf'rlsWill. fall within the sco pe o f the inventionas claimed.

Iclaimr 1. A cotton picking machine comprising a carrier frame, a'plurality of rotatable picker 7 units disposed therein, means carried by said frame for rotating said: units, means' on said units for. guiding branches of cot-ton plants suction means for plucking cotton from plants engaged by the units, suction means operating in advance of the plucking means for extracting trash material from the cotton plants, and means for adjusting said picker unit mechanism vertically in said frame.

2. A cotton picking machine comprising a carrier frame, a plurality of vertically spaced picker members rotatably mounted therein, means in said frame for rotating said uni-ts, cotton plant guide members disposed adjacent each of said picker units, and means carried by said units for selectively rendering certain of said units inoperable on cotton plants engaged by the machine.

3. A cotton picking machine comprising a carrier frame, a plurality of supplemental frames disposed therein, means for adjustably moving said supplemental frames relative to said carrier frame, a plurality of spaced vertical parallel shafts rotatably mounted in said supplemental frames, means on said carrier frame for rotating said shafts, a plurality of plates disposed in vertically spaced relation on said shafts and rotatable therewith, picker fingers disposed on said plates, guards carried by said supplemental frames and disposed over the major portion of each of said plates and picker fingers, and means in said supplemental frames for guiding cotton carrying portions of cotton plants into engagement with the exposed areas of said plates as the machine travels over cotton rows.

4'. A cotton picking machine comprising a carrier frame, a supplemental frame disposed therein, means for adjustably moving said supplemental frame relative to the carrier frame, a pair of parallel shafts vertically mounted in spaced relation in said supplemental frame, means on said carrier frame for rotating said shafts, aplurality of rotating picker members disposed in vertical spaced relation on said shafts with a vertical passageway therebetween for the reception of cotton plant stalks, suction means disposed adjacent each of said picker members and in vertical alignment, secondary suction means disposed adjacent each of said picker members in vertical alignment and in spaced relation from said first named suction means, and means carried by said supplemental frame for guiding portions of cotton plants into positive engagement with said picker members adjacent said first named suction means.

5. A cotton picking machine comprising a carrier frame, supplemental frames disposed therein in transverse spaced relation, means for adjusting each of said supplemental frames in a plurality of directions relative to said main frame and to each other, vertically disposed transversely spaced picker units disposed in each of said supple- 

